230 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
rests of tlie profession. As a compact body, we must 
resolve in our own strength to “go on.” The present age 
demands activity and open demonstration as evidences that 
we are earnest and honest in our desires to work for the 
general weal. All selfishness must be thrown aside, as 
unworthy of men whose minds have been liberalized and 
expanded by scientific truth. It is by thus acting, and 
thus only, that we shall in the end reap our just reward. 
We have written thus much, somewhat impulsively. It 
may be thought even warmly, but certainly not with feel¬ 
ings approaching to censoriousness, for this would not 
become us. Some little disappointment we have confessed 
to have felt; still we do hope hereafter to have such an in¬ 
crease of contributors as the Journal has hitherto never 
experienced ; liberally, and for so long a period as it has been 
supported by the profession. 
And surely there are none who will gainsay the advan¬ 
tages that are to be obtained from the press in connection 
with medicine; more especially that which is commonly 
designated the periodical press. Lest, however, there should 
be, and words of ours might fail to convince them of their 
error, we will employ those of others ; premising that, 
although primarily written for the sister profession, we be¬ 
lieve they will with equal force apply to our division. 
“ In the medical press we have an important engine of 
progress. The existence of this power and its flourishing 
condition depend greatly upon the tendency to association 
labour. Into this treasury is poured the labours of the best/ 
men in the profession, and its directors shape and produce 
these exertions so as to render them useful to the medical 
public. The medical press is to the body medical what 
medical men are to the public. The press, more than any 
other influence, moulds the profession as a body politic. 
By its agency extravagancies are checked, grievances pointed 
out and redressed, discoveries made known and abuses pre¬ 
vented. In a word, the press, as a whole, is an embodiment 
of the public opinion of the profession, and when it ceases 
to be this it will fail in its influence. It is perfectly demo¬ 
cratic, as open to the voice of the youngest student as to the 
utterance of the highest persons in the profession. It is a 
great educational instrument, modifying the laws, institu- 
